Billy Melo Araujo’s research interests focus in the areas of international trade law and EU external trade relations. His monograph, “The EU Deep Trade Agenda – Law and Policy” (Oxford University Press 2016), was the first comprehensive legal examination of regulatory disciplines included in EU trade agreements. He has also published multiple articles in leading peer-reviewed law journals on issues such as trade in services, trade and sustainable development and the democratic legitimacy of trade agreements. 

More recently, Dr. Billy Melo Araujo’s research has focused on the trade-related dimension of Brexit. He has, in particular, written on the interplay between devolution and UK trade agreements as well as the implications of the Ireland-Northern Ireland Protocol. He is also currently co-investigator in the ESRC funded project “Governance for 'a place between':  the multilevel dynamics of implementing the Protocol on Northern Ireland”.  

Public engagement is an important feature of Dr. Billy Melo Araujo’s research. He has advised, on a consultancy basis, the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy on trade law related matters and provided training to the governments of Northern, Ireland, Scotland and Wales on international trade law. He has also given evidence to the International Trade Committee of the House of Commons as well as the Finance and Constitution Committee of the Scottish parliament. Finally, Dr. Billy Melo Araujo regularly publishes articles in widely read media outlets such as The Conversation and QPol.